seaofgreen
06-04-2005, 01:31 PM
Marijuana: more harm than good
Public Health
By Dr. Paul Martiquet
Reporter
Marijuana … what’s an occasional little toke between friends? It will
relax you and is so much better than cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs.
Besides, didn’t we all ‘inhale’ when we were young and we’re fine?
What claptrap!
Smoke from burning marijuana pollutes the lungs and will deliver up to four
times as much tar as tobacco cigarettes. And because users hold their toke
longer before exhaling, the lungs are exposed to even higher levels of
cancer-causing toxins. How’s that for an innocent little puff?
The high incidence of marijuana use is not exclusive to any community, but
the latest McCreary survey of adolescents on the Sunshine Coast shows that
half of our youth have tried marijuana at some point — up from only 33 per
cent in 1993’s survey. While the numbers are for this specific region, few
will doubt that the situation is any different across the whole of our
health region.
Most of the rationalizations for using this drug are based on misconceptions
about the harm it can do. Many believe that because marijuana is a ‘natural’
plant (name one that is not) and is grown ‘organically’, little harm can be
associated with smoking it. Wrong! Although users may experience a euphoric
high from the drug, there are severe consequences from smoking it.
The damage from marijuana smoke is concentrated because of how the drug is
used. Unlike regular cigarettes (don’t worry, we do not support their use
either), the lack of filters on joints means nothing is held back from the
lungs. Also, marijuana smokers typically inhale a larger amount of smoke,
take it more deeply into the lungs, and then hold it for longer before
exhaling. Thus, the lungs are exposed to even more toxins.
Still want a toke?
Habitual smoking of anything damages the lining of the bronchial airways.
After continuous exposure to smoke, the delicate tissues along these
passageways become red and swollen.
Smoking also alters the interior of bronchial cells that develop a variety
of abnormalities, some of which are precursors to cancer.
Various studies all suggest that marijuana smoke is a risk factor for
developing respiratory, mouth and throat cancers. Evidence exists that
marijuana contains abundant carcinogens, which can cause chromosomal changes
that precede cancer and outright malignancies.
Of course we know that some patients are prescribed medical marijuana.
Patients are also encouraged to use the drug vaporized or to ingest it
orally to minimize lung damage. Vaporizing heats the marijuana so that the
active ingredients (cannabinoids) are released and inhaled by the user. This
is different from smoking as nothing is being burned, a process which adds
tar and carcinogens.
Marijuana endangers and damages the lungs and causes cancer and more. But
consider the danger of driving or operating machinery under the influence —
think not only of a tractor or chainsaw, but also the lawn mower or electric
mixer. Using marijuana is also associated with increased rates of injury in
workplaces and homes.
If you believe that marijuana is acceptable to use, please consider the
health consequences of smoking it. It is not the innocent little fun that
some will have you believe.
Dr. Paul Martiquet is the Medical Health Officer for Sea-to-Sky.
Contact Us
We strive to be as accessible to the public as we possibly can. Please
contact us via one or more of the following methods:
Phone:
Whistler Office
(604) 932-5131
BC Toll Free
1-877-419-8866
Public Health
By Dr. Paul Martiquet
Reporter
Marijuana … what’s an occasional little toke between friends? It will
relax you and is so much better than cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs.
Besides, didn’t we all ‘inhale’ when we were young and we’re fine?
What claptrap!
Smoke from burning marijuana pollutes the lungs and will deliver up to four
times as much tar as tobacco cigarettes. And because users hold their toke
longer before exhaling, the lungs are exposed to even higher levels of
cancer-causing toxins. How’s that for an innocent little puff?
The high incidence of marijuana use is not exclusive to any community, but
the latest McCreary survey of adolescents on the Sunshine Coast shows that
half of our youth have tried marijuana at some point — up from only 33 per
cent in 1993’s survey. While the numbers are for this specific region, few
will doubt that the situation is any different across the whole of our
health region.
Most of the rationalizations for using this drug are based on misconceptions
about the harm it can do. Many believe that because marijuana is a ‘natural’
plant (name one that is not) and is grown ‘organically’, little harm can be
associated with smoking it. Wrong! Although users may experience a euphoric
high from the drug, there are severe consequences from smoking it.
The damage from marijuana smoke is concentrated because of how the drug is
used. Unlike regular cigarettes (don’t worry, we do not support their use
either), the lack of filters on joints means nothing is held back from the
lungs. Also, marijuana smokers typically inhale a larger amount of smoke,
take it more deeply into the lungs, and then hold it for longer before
exhaling. Thus, the lungs are exposed to even more toxins.
Still want a toke?
Habitual smoking of anything damages the lining of the bronchial airways.
After continuous exposure to smoke, the delicate tissues along these
passageways become red and swollen.
Smoking also alters the interior of bronchial cells that develop a variety
of abnormalities, some of which are precursors to cancer.
Various studies all suggest that marijuana smoke is a risk factor for
developing respiratory, mouth and throat cancers. Evidence exists that
marijuana contains abundant carcinogens, which can cause chromosomal changes
that precede cancer and outright malignancies.
Of course we know that some patients are prescribed medical marijuana.
Patients are also encouraged to use the drug vaporized or to ingest it
orally to minimize lung damage. Vaporizing heats the marijuana so that the
active ingredients (cannabinoids) are released and inhaled by the user. This
is different from smoking as nothing is being burned, a process which adds
tar and carcinogens.
Marijuana endangers and damages the lungs and causes cancer and more. But
consider the danger of driving or operating machinery under the influence —
think not only of a tractor or chainsaw, but also the lawn mower or electric
mixer. Using marijuana is also associated with increased rates of injury in
workplaces and homes.
If you believe that marijuana is acceptable to use, please consider the
health consequences of smoking it. It is not the innocent little fun that
some will have you believe.
Dr. Paul Martiquet is the Medical Health Officer for Sea-to-Sky.
Contact Us
We strive to be as accessible to the public as we possibly can. Please
contact us via one or more of the following methods:
Phone:
Whistler Office
(604) 932-5131
BC Toll Free
1-877-419-8866